More information
Description
Our work will focus on the development of new regional models to describe connections between phytoplankton and the ecosystem, plankton life cycle, plankton growth and respiration, and also understanding factors are influencing those parameters. We aim to use these new developed models to derive plankton properties from satellite data. This will extend geographical and temporal coverage of the relevant data today and in the future, when larger parts of the Arctic Ocean become ice free. We will make use of existing information and will obtain new data using state-of-the-art in situ measurements and through water sample collection from research vessels in the European sector of the Arctic Ocean. We will particularly focus on the Fram Strait and Svalbard Shelf between Greenland and Svalbard. Fram Strait is the main gateway for the water exchange between North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean, with the West Spitsbergen Current bringing warm Atlantic waters into the Arctic and East Greenland Current transporting cold Polar waters southwards out of the Arctic Ocean. The key measurements will include concentrations of essential biogeochemical variables: net community production, dissolved and particulate organic carbon, chlorophyll a and particles suspended in water. We will also measure inherent and apparent optical properties, as well as conduct standard oceanographic observations of temperature and salinity. Statistical tools will be used to develop regional plankton model, validate satellite data and trace the links between physical properties of the ocean and ecosystem processes. More than 4 million Arctic residents and many millions of people beyond the region directly and indirectly rely on ecosystem services of the Arctic Ocean and its seas – such as fisheries and aquaculture. Up to date knowledge about current state and ecosystem changes across all levels of the Arctic marine food web is the key for responsible ecosystem management of the Arctic Ocean.